On a Sportsnet broadcast the other night, a demonstration on goaltender bulk ended with Nick Kypreos wielding a massive white goalie glove and using it to completely cover the head of diminutive Darren Pang, who was laughing but now unseen.

In their endless quest to tinker with the game and improve scoring, goaltender equipment has come under its annual attack. Michelin Men beware. Actually, many in the fraternity are just fine with that, to a point.

On the day of their game with the visiting Vancouver Canucks, Senators goalies Craig Anderson and Andrew Hammond spoke at length on the issue, with candor and humour.

Hammond all but pleaded with the NHL not to alter the size of the nets while Anderson had a good line about how his wife enjoys high-scoring games.

The question to Anderson was whether or not hockey needs more goals to be exciting.

“In Canada? Probably not,” said Anderson, an Illinois native. “It is exciting, though. I talk to my wife, and she hates being a goaltender’s wife, but when we win a game 5-4, I come home and she says, ‘that was the most exciting game I’ve been to.’”

So much for worrying about hubby’s save percentage. But full marks for honesty.

Ryan Miller #30 of the Vancouver Canucks makes a save on a wrist shot by Mika Zibanejad #93 of the Ottawa Senators.Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images

Zack Smith #15 of the Ottawa Senators covers his mouth after receiving a high stick by Adam Cracknell #24 of the Vancouver Canucks.Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images

zOTTAWA, ON - NOVEMBER 12: Radim Vrbata #17 of the Vancouver Canucks stickhandles the puck against Mark Borowiecki #74 of the Ottawa Senators during an NHL game at Canadian Tire Centre on November 12, 2015 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photo/Getty Images

Bobby Ryan #6 of the Ottawa Senators celebrates his first period power-play goal against the Vancouver Canucks.Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photo/Getty Images

Sven Baertschi #47 of the Vancouver Canucks scores a first period goal against Andrew Hammond #30 of the Ottawa Senators as Chris Wideman #45 of the Ottawa Senators looks on.Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photo/Getty Images

Mike Hoffman #68 of the Ottawa Senators and battles for a loose puck against Adam Cracknell #24 of the Vancouver Canucks.Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images

Erik Karlsson #65 of the Ottawa Senators celebrates his second period goal with team mate Mike Hoffman #68.Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photo/Getty Images

“It’s just because, the horns are going off, fans are cheering, there’s a lot of energy,” Anderson says. “It is fun hockey. It’s not fun for the goalie because we set a standard for ourselves, or the league set a standard . . that two goals or less is a good game.”

If that standard were to be altered to three goals per game, as it was in the 1980s and ’90s, Anderson says he’d be fine with that.“Hockey is fun for me regardless, it’s a matter of what the general public thinks.”

After years of talk about ways to improve scoring, goaltenders are used to the “conversation” about shrinking goalie gear, Anderson says. He doesn’t figure there would be a monumental push-back, such as we-won’t-stand-for-this, “this is malarkey,” as long as goalie safety is maintained.

Rarely does a puck injury sideline a goaltender, although Anderson was out for 19 games last season with a deep bone bruise in his blocker hand.

“I think the material they use now, it distributes the energy so well, you’re able to get away with less (bulk). And still be protected.

“That’s my main concern. Be protected, and make sure you’re not scared of the puck because it hurts. That’s the point we’re at now, where most goalies can get in there and the puck doesn’t hurt.”

As easy-going as any goalie in the fraternity, Anderson says he’s fine with whatever the NHL rules on gear adjustments.

Hammond, who made his fourth start of the season on Thursday, concurs that safety trumps all other concerns. He’s all in favour of more contoured goalie gear. As for leg pads, Hammond is already under the league limit, and his next pad order is going to be an inch shorter than his current pads.

Some are good at skirting the rules. A goalie can have his pads ride up higher on the leg depending on how he straps them, for example.

‘WORST IDEA’

Hammond makes the point that some low-scoring games are more exciting than the crazy slugfests. Was Ottawa’s 7-5 loss in Nashville a work of art? No. More like a calamity. Entertaining, though. Something in between might be nice. A bit of room for a skilled player to operate with, and a bit more net to look at, without going back to the gear of the 1970s.

But changing the size of the nets?

“By far the worst idea,” Hammond says. “By far. I’m even thinking about it now. Since I was six years old I’ve tapped the posts. Do I know where I am without tapping the posts? Yes, but from a position of comfort — it’s just something you grew up with, how you’ve always been taught the game. It’s the first thing you learned in goalie school: Give yourself a feel for the net.”

“It changes the game, and at some point you have to embrace the fact that goalies are getting better.”

Hammond’s preference would be to restrict tight chest protectors and pants, as long as they remain protective.

“In the game now, you still get some bumps and bruises but if they’re going to push it to where those bumps and bruises turn into things that are keeping you out of games or practices, then I think it becomes an issue,” Hammond says. “But I do think there are things they could do.”

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